Been working out and flexing your muscles for the upcoming (oh wait, it's already here!) summer season? In between your yoga classes and low-calorie yogurt consumption to get in shape for hittin' the surf, you must have thought, "now I need the perfect suit." What would make me look good and compliment my figure, skin tones, and hair highlights? Well, here are 5 tips for a bathing suit that is perfect for you. 1. Color. I would tend to avoid flashy, solid, neon-colors that are reminiscent of the 80s. Unless you're very tan, neon is not always the best choice. 2. Prints. Prints, aside from drawing many compliments such as "ooh I like the print of your suit, where'd you get it?" are very attractive and unique. They also help to draw attention away from flaws you may have on your body. Darker toned prints will also make you look thinner, especially when occasionally puncuated by a bright color here and there. 3. Brand name. True, sometimes the brand name isn't anything but more $$ for no reason, but if there's one thing that you want in your suit above all else, it's quality. When it comes to a bathing suit, especially a bikini, brand names are important. A better brand name means better quality. If you're going to the beach and are planning to hit the salty, wave-filled ocean, you really need a suit that is going to hold up. With a good brand name bathing suit like Roxy, Billabong, Local Motion, or Rusty, you get the advantage of looking sexy in a bikini but also having a suit that isn't flimsy. Flimsy is bad. A sexy cheapo suit may look good, but if you're doing anything more than tanning and walking down the boardwalk at slow speeds, it will fall off. Or, you'll have to keep adjusting it every 5 minutes to prevent it from falling off, which will prevent you from feeling secure and having fun. As a competitive surfer, I know what that's like. It's tough being a girl and wanting to look cute in a bikini but also having to battle 6ft surf without worrying if, when i come up from a wave, my suit is still going to be there. That is why I choose good brand names. They stay on. Period. 4. Choosing the right cut for your body. Women look best in bikinis, even if we don't think so. They are also really practical for the hot climate. If you're worried about looking unattractive, here's a blunt fact: men will always find women attractive. To a man, a woman's body is beautiful and it doesn't matter if you don't think you look good in the bikini, because you do. If you're not comfortable wearing a bikini, however, there are plenty of stylish one-pieces out there. And I mean real stylish and cute, not the kind of one-piece that you get at a Speedo store. So it's ok if you don't want to wear a bikini. 5. Here's my one point for guys. If you're going for the "surfer" look, or if you are a surfer, go for brand-name boardshorts. They're cool, they tie-up so they stay on, and they last long. They also go to the knees, which is the style. They come in cool, varied designs so you rarely have the same pair as another guy on the beach. Girls love 'em. Hope you enjoyed these tips, have fun at the beach this summer!